Archive

Urban Design

This article looks at the relationship urban dwellers have with their urban environments and how a greener built environment in an urbanised area can play a role in alleviating the issue of urban poverty. Green Infrastructure can go a long way in addressing concerns such as food security, improving wellness of the mind and body both physically and mentally, providing a sense of community, help the environment and lastly, a job creator.

Do you agree with the findings in the article? Does Green Infrastructure alleviate urban poverty? Based on the findings presented in the article, I would tend to think so.

“At the most basic level, the act of advocating for change, questioning regulations, finding funding and mobilising others to contribute their voices engages communities – and in engaging, leaves these communities better for it.”

The World Bank published and made available this book “Transforming Cities with Transit” which explores the complex process of transit and land-use integration in rapidly growing cities in developing countries. As one of the most promising strategies for advancing environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness, and socially inclusive development in fast-growing cities, transit and land-use integration is increasingly being embraced by policy-makers at all levels of government. Happy reading!

This is a great read. A before-and-after guide to better and safer streets.

Key lessons to learn:

1) Streets have to be made/designed so they are easy to use;
2) There is safety in numbers, so design to encourage more pedestrians and cyclists;
3) Making the invisible, clearly visible;
4) Quality over quantity and;
5) Looking beyond the problem.

I came across this article a few weeks ago which I really enjoyed reading. It’s about this insane proposal of a six-storey highway in Manhattan put forward by then NYC Health commissioner Dr. John A Harriss in 1930. As controversial as Robert Moses’ automobile-heavy redesign of New York city was, this idea by Dr. Harriss is a great lunatic moment in urban planning.